What is something new you learned this Christmas, concerning the Christmas story?
Having just come from a wedding a few weeks ago, I have been seeing the Christmas story through a completely new lens this year!
That’s how it goes … whatever you are going through in life colors and influences your understanding of Scripture. You notice things you never saw before! You learn lessons you never imagined before!
Based on whatever is going on in your life, the Holy Spirit uses those experiences to grow you in your understanding and knowledge of His Word (the Bible).
This is what has happened for me this Christmas!
What I have learned this Christmas … which is a brand-new concept for me … is that a wedding was a HUGE part of the Christmas story! In fact, a wedding was a vital piece of the Christmas story!
Mary was betrothed (engaged) to be married to Joseph … when she became pregnant, by the power of the Holy Spirit, with the promised Messiah.
Mary and Joseph were not married yet. The wedding had not taken place yet.
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to end the engagement quietly.” – Matthew 1:18-19
There almost was no wedding!
“But after Joseph had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.’” – Matthew 1:20-21
Here you can see the wedding bouquets from the wedding I was recently a participant in. Aren’t the bouquets beautiful! And in the box beside the bouquets are all the boutonnieres and corsages.
What was Mary and Joseph’s wedding like?? Did Mary have flowers in her hair? Did she carry a bouquet? … which flowers might have been in her bouquet?? Were there flowers draping the wedding canopy?
Was the baby Jesus kicking as Mary stood underneath the wedding canopy and said her vows to Joseph? Was her baby-bump showing??
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” – Matthew 1:24-25
A wedding was a HUGE part of the Christmas story!
Without a wedding, there would have been no need for Mary to travel to Bethlehem for the census … and hence, she would not have given birth to the Messiah in Bethlehem (in accordance with the prophecies; see Matthew 2:1-6; see also Micah 5:2)
Without a wedding, there would not have been a strong, protective father to take care of the infant Jesus and Mary, when it was necessary to flee to Egypt (in accordance with the prophecies; see Matthew 2:13-18; see also Jeremiah 31:15)
Without a wedding, Jesus would not have had an earthly father to parent him, instruct him, and guide him as he grew up. (see Matthew 2:19-23; see also Luke 2:39-52)
A wedding was a HUGE part of the Christmas story! Without a wedding, much of what occurred in the birth and life of Jesus Christ could not have happened.
Thank you God for the wedding! … the wedding of Mary and Joseph … which paved the way for the rest of God’s grand plan to unfold!
